Only A Rose......

Good morning all & a Very Happy Monday to you all!

There is a good reason I'm so chirpy today!
I'm on holiday! YAY!
Not off to anywhere exotic unless you consider Newcastle exotic that is! lol

As it's Monday, it's time for another DT card for My Grafico, where it's ALWAYS Anything Goes!

This week the DT were given the Tudor Rose Stamps Set

from  Mel's Brushes  to work with!

Such a versatile set, you could use it for many occasions!

As I had an Anniversary Card to make, I chose that as my theme!

I chose this image as I felt the two stems going to one flower signified a union, perfect for an anniversary card!

I used the sketch from Create 4 Fun Challenge for my layout!

My card base was made from a sheet of A4 red cardstock. 

I mixed up the sketch layers & turned it around!
I hope you can still recognise it!

The image was coloured with Promarkers I cut it into a rectangle & rounded the corners with a punch!

I then matted on to the DP, from cardmaking downloads & then onto some red cardstock!

The circle was cut out with a Scalloped Circle Nestie on the Big Shot.

To finish off,I added some red yellow & green gems for a bit of detail & bling!

I hope you like it! Thanks so much for stopping by! I really do appreciate it!

I'd like to put this card forward for the following challenges

Create 4 Fun Sketch

2 Sisters Use A Digi

Secret Crafter Anniversary

Fairy Knoll Flowers

Shelley's Images Anything Goes

Penny's Paper Crafty Anything Goes

Truly Scrumptious Anything Goes

Get Ippity With Hippity Flowers

House Of Gilli Flowers

Make It Monday Anything Goes

Stamp & Fun = Creativity Flower Power

Stamps r us Go Digital

Sunday & No Work Tomorrow!

Hi all, it's Sunday & I'm on my hols for a week!!! 

Not going away anywhere fancy, so I say, but we are having a trip to the Metrocentre, Newcastle Upon Tyne & a night on Lindisfarne, Holy Island.

In fact, all going well we're there by now!

Earlier this week I let you see a sneak peek of my GDT card for the Quirky Crafts Challenge Blog!

Now here's the whole thing!

The Challenge is a sketch, mixed media, so it can be a card, canvas, layout or anything else you can apply it to!

We were given the choice of two sketches to work from

I chose the first one. We also had the choice of two sets from The Cutting Cafe' who are sponsoring the challenge,"It's About That Time" & "One Spring Day"

I chose "It's About That Time" as you may have already noticed as

over at Daring Cardmakers the challenge this week is to be inspired by the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol ( Let's waste time chasing cars around our heads..........)

I chose the clock image & the large circle sentiment from the set. 

I don't have a cutting machine, so I relied on just my trusty scissors & dies. 

As the clock face was black, I was inspired to use black & white for my card!

The papers I have used are Dovecraft, they're called Charcoal Prints by Sandra Ranarison & they have been in my stash for ever!

(One of my resolutions at New Year was to try to use up some of my old stash this year & I think I'm doing okay so far!)

I cut out the clock face using my trusty decoupage scissors. The circle sentiment was cut using a scalloped circle nestie & then my Nellie's frame die.

I used black card to back the cut out circle & mounted the clock face in the centre with foam tape.

I followed the sketch & added some lace. I then mounted the sentiment on foam tape to give added dimension.

The other sentiment was from a sheet of peel off's that just appeared from nowhere when I was working! Must've been in between some papers or something! I thought the phrase went perfectly with my card so I stuck it to some white card, matted & layered onto more black & white card & mounted on foam squares.

To finish I added some large self adhesive gems.

I decided to decorate the inside of the card a little, It's just a little bit more interesting than a plain insert!

Thanks for looking, I do hope you like it.

Have you noticed, there's not a Promarker in sight! lol

Pop on over to Quirky Crafts & join in with the challenge if you have time! Don't forget to check out the DT blogs too & leave them some love!

Challenges I'd like to enter my card in are as follows

Scrapbook Sisters Black & White

Truly Scrumptious Anything Goes

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Lace

House of Gilli Black & One Other colour

Craft Your Days Away White + I Other Colour

Designed 2 Delight White +1 colour

Marks Finest Papers Tone on Tone With The Focal Image Popped Up

Crafty Catz Anything Goes

Daring Card Makers Inspired by The Song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

Wags n Whiskers Circles

Crafty Purple Frog Challenge Monochromatic

Shelley's Images Anything Goes

Daisy, Daisy......

Happy Sunday everyone!

Time for another Challenge over at The Crafty Pad!

I think you'll like this one!

Challenge #122 is Lace & Bows
We want to see Lace & Bows on your project!

Here's my card

Our kind sponsor this week is...........

Crafty Sentiments!

They are offering a prize of 3 digi images of winners choice from their shop.

The image I have used is Fairy Chloe on Daisies from The Crafty Pad Designs.

Pop on over to the shop & see the range for your self!

The image is coloured with Promarkers & cut out with a nestie.
I added glitter to the wings & the centre of the daisies.
As you can see I opted for an Easel Card! I love making these!

The base of the easel card was made using an A4 sheet of white textured card which I scored & folded it in half then cut into a square. I cut a square the same size from another sheet for the card front.

I cut 2 smaller squares from plain coloured card then another 2 slightly smaller again from my design paper.

I matted the paper squares onto the plain card then wrapped a length of daisy edging lace around each piece.

I then attached these to the card base & front.

I used the sentiment ticket, also from The Crafty Pad, which I coloured with promarkers & added some glitter to, for the stop!

I added some flowers which were a bit glittery too!

Thanks for popping in! I hope you like it!

Don't forget to join in the Lace & Bows Challenge if you have the time! I have a feeling that this one is going to be very popular indeed!

Ooopsy, nearly for got to say a big welcome & a wave to Shawne my latest blogging buddy & follower! Thank you so much for joining us! I hope you'll stop by Shawne's Blog if you get a chance!

I'd like to enter my card in a few challenges, see the list below!
2 Sisters challenge blog Use a Digi
Little Claire's Sparkle
One Stop Craft Challenge Fairy Tales
Word Play Weekend Challenge JFF Wings
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge Flower Ribbon Bling
Delicious Doodles Let The Sun Shine In
Fairy Fun Fridays More Than One Fold
Fairy Knoll Flowers
Sew Many Cards Flowers & Lace
Paper Play Challenges Sparkle Galore
Flutterby Wednesdays Must Include a Fairy,Butterfly or Angel

Good Evening Here's A Sneaky Peek

Evening all, hope everyone is well & looking forward to the weekend!

If you all remember, I asked for you to give me your votes for the 

Quirky Craft Challenge 

a couple of weeks back & thanks to you all, I won! 

As a winner, I was invited to be a GDT member for the upcoming challenge 

which goes live on the 22nd of May!

I thought I'd stop by & share with you a little sneaky peek of the card I made for my GDT spot!

Look below

I will of course show you more when the challenge goes live but until then, this will have to do!

Thank you once again everyone!

Whilst I'm here I'll say a big Hello & give a big wave to my latest friend & follower Debs from The Emerald Faerie Garden. They have just started a new challenge blog & you can find it here!

Right best get back to what I was doing!

I'd like to be.......

As the song goes.........Under the sea,.in an Octopus's garden......lol

Morning all! Is it Monday already??? 

Where did the weekend go???

Here's my DT card for the My Grafico, Monthly, Anything Goes Challenge this week!

Isn't she lovely....that's another song....lol

This little lady is from Jessie Weible/JD Digi Designs at My Grafico & you can find her here

Please don't forget to enter the challenge! It's not hard to qualify as it's alway Anything Goes!

Stop by the other DT members blogs too if you get a chance & leave them some love!

I've been having fun following sketches over the last few weeks & this week is no exception.

The sketch I chose this week is from Sweet Stampin, it just caught my eye!

If you don't like sketches, you can use an alternative of Spots, Stripes & Sparkle.

I think I've done a bit of both!

This week I opted to use papers from my stash that I've had forever! I think I got them on ebay or in one of these surprise crafty bundles you get from suppliers.

So, on with the show, here's how I made my card.

The base card is a square, cut from a sheet of white A4 cardstock.

I added a square of light green card, then my shiny spotty paper. This kind of said "sea" to me & when I stuck it down with photoglue, it kind of went a bit wavy too, I liked it so I left it as it was!

The image was coloured with Promarkers, cut out with an oval nestie & matted onto a large scalloped oval of the light green card.

I cut my scalloped section out with a spellbinders square scalloped die. To do this, I put my card to one edge & cut, then flipped it over to do the other edgee, making sure I matched up the scallops!

I then added a layer of pearlescent vellum. I'm not sure how well you can see it in the pics, it's obvious to me but I know it's there! I did all the little panels with the light green card & the pearlescent vellum as I didn't want my card to look too busy!

The sentiment is from Sentiments 4 You if I'm not mistaken. 

(FYI, they have a Friday Freebie each week!)

I used promarkers to colour, then it was cut out with an inverted scallop circle nestie & matted onto a scalloped circle of the light green card.

I also added a ribbon bow & two decorative pins ( my latest purchase!).

Thanks for stopping by,I hope you like her! 

Don't forget to enter your card at My Grafico Anything Goes Challenge

I'm off to look for some suitable challenges for my card!

Sweet Stampin Sketch OR Spots Stripes & Sparkle
By The Cute & Girly Anything Goes
Crafters Companion Girls Birthday
Emerald Faerie Garden Anything Goes
Corrosive Challenges Birthdays
Dream Valley Challenges Dig out the old & use with the new! (Old papers new digi)
OSAAT Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes Birthdays
Stamp Scrap & Doodle Saturday Dig out old stash
Annabelle's Stamps Say it in Monochromatic tones

Is it Sunday Already Cup Cake?

Happy Sunday all! 

Well I'm hoping it's happy Sunday & Mr Blogger has sorted himself out!

I felt a bit lost as I couldn't comment on anyone's lovely cards or upload any of my own!

When I did get on Mr Blogger had removed lots of your lovely posts!

As it's Sunday, it must be a new challenge over at
The Crafty Pad! 

This week for Challenge #121 we would like to see "Holes"

There are lots of options, big holes little holes, holes with ribbon threaded through the list is endless & the type is up to you!
We're sponsored this week by the lovely
Joanna Sheen

who is offering £10 to spend in her fabby shop!

Here's my card with my interpretation of the theme, with lots of holes!
 Lol,  had to make up for the lack of spots & dots last week!

The Design Team were asked to use one of Debbie's Cup Cake images

from The CupCake Complete Set

available from The Crafty Pad Designs the sentiments are part of the same set!

Here's how I made my card:

For the base card I used a white scalloped square card. 

I scored down the middle of the front section & folded it back, et voila a fold back card!

I spent ages looking for just the right paper to use for this card & found it was literally under my nose all along!  

The striped paper came from Southfield Stationers & was part of a bundle I was given to play with a while back. It matched the cup cake holder just perfectly.

I've used these papers from Southfield's quite a lot!
The colours are great & the quality is really very good!

The image & decoupage sections were coloured with promarkers, I layered up the decoupage using pinflair glue & added some Diamond Sparkles glitter to two of the sections.

 The cherry on top was highlighted with a white gel pen which got a bit smudged, oopsy, 

I then cut out the image using my new frame die from Nellie's which I purchased at Southfield's.

On the inside section, I added the outside of the frame that I used to cut out my image, which was matted onto the blue paper, then added the sentiment, which was cut out with a scalloped oval!

 I used my ribbon threading punch to puch two holes at the top & bottom & threaded some lace, which is full of holes, through the punched holes & stuck down.

The other sentiments were simply matted on to the blue & attached with foam tape to give some dimension!

I hope you'll find the time to join us for our "Holes" Challenge at The Crafty Pad!

I'm off to look for some challenges for this card. Enjoy your Sunday!

OSAAT Challenges Anything Goes

Sparkles Forum Recipe, 2 Papers,1Ribbon or Bow, 2 embellishmets (Hope my pins count as embellishments

The Hot Spot Challenge Case a Cake

Kenny K Kraty Girlz Die Cuts & Punches (I've used both)

Scrappy Frogs Anything Goes

One Stop Craft Challenge Ice Cream Colours ( Blue Moon, Vanilla,Strawberry & Black cherry Flavours)

My Mums Craft Shop Challenges Use Dies

Fairy Fun Friday's Here Come The Girls





My Grafico Challenge is Back!

Good morning all! 

Happy Monday to you all & I hope you had a fab weekend!

Over at My Grafico, we had a unexpected week's holiday due to one thing & another but we're all back on track & raring to go after our impromptu break!

I hope you'll be able to join in with our Anything Goes Challenge this month!

Grab a cuppa by the way, you might need it!

Here's my DT card!

I just love making Twisted Easel cards, such fun!

This week we were given these wonderful ticket sentiments from La La Studio to work with!

Such a great set for all manner of occasions!

The Image I used for this card came from Dude Time Doodles, he's called Hillbilly Moonshine!

I coloured him up with promarkers & added a bit of glitter to the bubbles above his head!

I cut him out with a square scalloped nestie.

I then used a couple of distress inks to grunge him up a bit & distressed the edges with a pair of scissors!

For the layout of my card I used a sketch from Little Claire's

This card is for my brother-in-law's birthday!

 The day after his birthday, he's heading of to Majorca for his future son-in -law's stag party! 

I really hope he doesn't end up in this state! lol

The DP I have used was the result of a printer malfunction, which resulted in my printer going in the bin!

Still, I hung on to it & it came in handy, so I have to say it was a happy accident!

As well as the Ticket Sentiment which I used as the stop for the easel section of the card

I computer generated a little funny sentiment of my own

As the image I used was from Dude Time Doodles, I wanted to enter their challenge this week which was to use any sketch & to add a flower! So Here's my grungy flower!

A couple of Prima flowers, grunged with distress inks & a little card candy centre!

I also dotted some card candy about just to bring everything together!

I do hope you like him!

Thanks so much for looking!

Don't forget to visit the other DT members blogs & give them a bit of love too! You'll find the DT list next to DT cards on the challenge blog!

Challenges I'd like to enter this card for

Dude Time Doodles Any Sketch will do but add a flower

Little Claire's Anything Goes

Digi's With Attitude! Make us Laugh

Come & Get It Birthdays

Creative Cowgirls Anything Goes

One Stitch At A Time Fancy Folds

Pile It On Funny Sentiment or Image

Scrappy Frogs Anything Goes

Sentimental Sunday's Anything Goes

Cards For Men For Someone Special

Craft Your Passion Check it out

The Crazy Challenge Anything Goes

Design Dollies Creative folds

Happileigh Scrappin Green

Pollycraft Challenge Boyz To Men

Stamps R Us Masculine

Thank you!

Just stopped by to say thank you for everyone who voted for my cards over at Quirky Craft Challenges!

Delighted to say I won!

Whoop Whoop Yaaaayyyy!

Thanks again everyone!

I promise I'll share a card with you tomorrow!

Time to Fess Up!

Hello everyone out there in blog land!
It's Sunday which means a new challenge over at
The Crafty Pad!
Challenge # 120 Spots & Dots let us see you go Dotty!
This week we are kindly sponsored by Letraset

Who are offering a fabby pack of 5 Aquamarkers

We are also sponsored by our very own Lovely Lorraine from L.R. Designs

 Okay, so, 'fessing up time!
 I'm a bad bad bad bad girl!

I made my card for the challenge DT.....but.....I stupidly forgot all about the Spots & Dots!
*Blushing Furiously*
I guess you could say the creator was totally Dotty!

So here's my card, minus the spotty & dotty bits!

I was feeling so pleased with myself & my card too! 

The DT were asked to use the 

Recipe for a Friend from The Crafty Pad Designs.

I opted to keep my card fairly simple as I didn't want to detract from the Recipe!

I printed the recipe onto some pearlescent paper then cut out.

I've been working on a big project (top secret for now) using gate fold cards & decided this design would suit the recipe just perfectly!

I used a sheet of A5 textured chocolate brown card for the base card.

The DP I used was part of a download from Craftystash I keep using these papers as they are so versatile!

I apologise for the quality of my pics as I took them when it was dark & the colours just aren't true, no matter how I tried to fix them!

I added some flowers from Sweetpea Polly's Crafty Things & some leaves punched out using my woodware punch.

To finish it of I added this neat little frog fastner, 

it's the kind of thing you see on Oriental jackets & blouses.

I got this from Mei Flower at a recent Craft Show! I think it's just perfect for this kind of card! It's something just a little bit different from ribbon!

Inside the card which you can't see on any of the pics,  there is a linen textured paper insert. I added a strip of the DP down either side just to tie it all together.

I'm going to send this card to a friend who's feeling a bit down at the mo with a lovely bar of Green & Black's Chocolate!

Don't forget to join in the Challenge at The Crafty Pad if you can & if you do don't be like me & forget your Spots & Dots! lol

Now for some challenges, I'd like to enter the following

Bugaboo Anything Goes

Cardmaking Mama's Make a card for a loved one

Crafty Catz Use a quote of a sentiment

Inspire Me Friday's Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday Chocolate

Diva's By Design Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday Anything Goes